Umbrella-tip retainer.



No. 689,538. Patented Dec. 24, IBM.

R. T. CLARK.

UMBRELLA TIP RETAINER.

(Application filed Jan. 24, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT THOMAS CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOHN T. SKAE AND JOSEPH FRANKFURT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UMBRELLA-TIP RETAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,538, dated December 24, 1901.

Application filed January 24, 1901. Serial No. 44,512. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LROBERT THOMAS CLARK, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Umbrella, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in umbrellas in which the cap ordinarily used to inclose the rib-tips to hold them in place is mounted to slide upon the runner, and the spring and catch used for holding the umbrella-frame in closed position are done away with.

My invention comprises novel features, which will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts. I

The figure of drawing shows the runner and adjacent parts of an umbrella with my invention attached.

In applying my invention to an umbrella the runner D is made of sufficient length so that a band E may be mounted to slide thereon between the portion of the runner to which the braces B are hinged and a stop upon the opposite end of the runner, said stop being herein shown as a ring or band d. The cap F, which is adapted to slip over the rib-tips, is mounted to slide about the stem A of the umbrella, but is ordinarily not in contact therewith, being supported upon a rod or bar G, which extends parallel with the stem A and is connected with the band E. This band may be supported to slide in guides placed upon the stem A at any convenient pointas, for instance, upon a band H, which lies between the cap F and the runner. This band H is loose upon the stem, so that it may slide with the runner. I have also shown this rod G as being supported and guided upon the band (I, which is carried by the runner.

In closing the umbrella the ribs are brought together about the stem, the cap F being previously pulled outward into the position shown in the drawing. The cap is then forced inward or so as to slide over the ribtips, thus holding them securely in place. It is evident that as long as the cap embraces the rib-tips the umbrella cannot open, and consequently the use of the ordinary spring and catch for holding the umbrella closed is unnecessary. In opening the umbrella the cap F is drawn from over the rib-tips and the tips spread, so that the ring may be forced inside of the tips. It then contacts with the runner D and the umbrella is opened without taking direct hold of the runner. It is therefore as convenient in operation as any of the ordinary devices, and its use insures that the ribs of the umbrella be held tightly against the stem at all times, thus presenting a better appearance than where the ribs are allowed to fall away from the stem, as is true in umbrellas of ordinary construction.

The cap F may be made as a plain cylindrical band, but preferably is made slightly conical or bell-shaped. At least the inner side of the capis preferably conical, although the outside may be made cylindrical.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I The combination with an umbrella-stem and a runner thereon, of a ring freely sliding on the runner, said runner having limitingstops therefor, a longitudinally extending arm secured to said ring, a supporting and guiding sleeve embracing the stem beneath the runner and attached to said arm, and a ti p-cup attached to the lower end of said arm.

ROBERT THOMAS CLARK.

Witnesses:

H. L. REYNOLDS, CHAS. J. RATHJEN. 

